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Claude King Obituary

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Country singer-songwriter Claude King, an original member of the Louisiana Hayride who was best known for the 1962 hit "Wolverton Mountain," has died. He was 90.

King had just celebrated his birthday and 67th wedding anniversary last month. The couple's eldest son, Duane King, said his father was found unresponsive in his bed early Thursday morning at his home in Shreveport.

King was one of the original members of the Louisiana Hayride, the Saturday night show where Elvis Presley got his start and Hank Williams Sr. frequently performed. The show transformed country and western music from 1948 to 1960 - the Hayride's heyday - with music genres including hillbilly, western swing, jazz, blues and gospel. Duane King recalls meeting Presley and Hank Williams Sr. backstage with his dad at the Hayride.

King's hit, "Wolverton Mountain," co-written with Merle Kilgore, was about an Arkansas mountain man, Clifton Clowers, who guarded his daughter from suitors.

"It was a story song, with a sense of humor, and it was an instant hit," said Maggie Warwick, owner of the Louisiana Hayride trademark and the production company, Louisiana Hayride Co. Warwick recalled King as "a legend in the Louisiana music industry, one of the greatest songwriters, and a wonderful friend."

Warwick, who also chairs the Louisiana Music Commission, said King and Tillman Franks were on the Hayride from the very beginning. She said King was known for his guitar-playing skills and knack for writing songs.

"He had a gift for melody and lyrics that was very definable," Warwick said. "The range and melody and the feeling that goes with his songs, when you hear it, it's very unique and identifiable with Claude King. He had a personal style that was all his own."

King's other hits included "Sheepskin Valley," ''Building a Bridge," ''Hey Lucille!," ''Big River, Big Man," ''I've Got The World By The Tail," ''Catch a L ittle Raindrop," ''All For The Love Of A Girl" and "The Comancheros," which was inspired by the John Wayne movie of the same name.

King circulated with stars like Johnny Cash, Slim Whitman, Johnny Horton and Presley, who sent country music rocking from the Hayride stage. But Duane King says his father was never interested in being a big star.

"He could have been as big as anybody, but that's not what he was about," said Duane King, who is now 65.

He said his father loved performing in his home state and was a celebrity in Shreveport, where he was given a "Key to the City." A star-shaped plaque with his name and hand- and boot-prints were placed on a downtown sidewalk as part of the city's "Walk of Stars."

King was a devoted family man who enjoyed fishing and gardening, his son said.

Duane King said he and his father had planned to go fishing on Friday. Although his father had some health issues, he had recently been feeling well, even asked for a n exercise bike for his birthday.

"It caught us by surprise, and we're going to miss him. He was such an easygoing, unpretentious person who didn't have anything bad to say about anybody. He was my best friend, and I wish I could be half the person he was."

Claude King served in the U.S. Navy, including in the Philippines during World War II, between 1942 and 1946.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Country singer-songwriter Claude King, an original member of the Louisiana Hayride who was best known for the 1962 hit "Wolverton Mountain," has died. He was 90.

King had just celebrated his birthday and 67th wedding anniversary last month. The couple's eldest son, Duane King, said his father was found unresponsive in his bed early Thursday morning at his home in Shreveport.

King was one of the original members of the Louisiana Hayride, the Saturday night show where Elvis Presley got his start and Hank Williams Sr. frequently performed. The show transformed country and western music from 1948 to 1960 - the Hayride's heyday - with music genres including hillbilly, western swing, jazz, blues and gospel. Duane King recalls meeting Presley and Hank Williams Sr. backstage with his dad at the Hayride.

King's hit, "Wolverton Mountain," co-written with Merle Kilgore, was about an Arkansas mountain man, Clifton Clowers, who guarded his daughter from suitors.

"It was a story song, with a sense of humor, and it was an instant hit," said Maggie Warwick, owner of the Louisiana Hayride trademark and the production company, Louisiana Hayride Co. Warwick recalled King as "a legend in the Louisiana music industry, one of the greatest songwriters, and a wonderful friend."

Warwick, who also chairs the Louisiana Music Commission, said King and Tillman Franks were on the Hayride from the very beginning. She said King was known for his guitar-playing skills and knack for writing songs.

"He had a gift for melody and lyrics that was very definable," Warwick said. "The range and melody and the feeling that goes with his songs, when you hear it, it's very unique and identifiable with Claude King. He had a personal style that was all his own."

King's other hits included "Sheepskin Valley," ''Building a Bridge," ''Hey Lucille!," ''Big River, Big Man," ''I've Got The World By The Tail," ''Catch a L ittle Raindrop," ''All For The Love Of A Girl" and "The Comancheros," which was inspired by the John Wayne movie of the same name.

King circulated with stars like Johnny Cash, Slim Whitman, Johnny Horton and Presley, who sent country music rocking from the Hayride stage. But Duane King says his father was never interested in being a big star.

"He could have been as big as anybody, but that's not what he was about," said Duane King, who is now 65.

He said his father loved performing in his home state and was a celebrity in Shreveport, where he was given a "Key to the City." A star-shaped plaque with his name and hand- and boot-prints were placed on a downtown sidewalk as part of the city's "Walk of Stars."

King was a devoted family man who enjoyed fishing and gardening, his son said.

Duane King said he and his father had planned to go fishing on Friday. Although his father had some health issues, he had recently been feeling well, even asked for a n exercise bike for his birthday.

"It caught us by surprise, and we're going to miss him. He was such an easygoing, unpretentious person who didn't have anything bad to say about anybody. He was my best friend, and I wish I could be half the person he was."

Claude King served in the U.S. Navy, including in the Philippines during World War II, between 1942 and 1946.

Guest Book Highlights

"My condolence to the King family on your loss. His music touched our family deeply in the 1960's. My uncles would sit with us children at the time and cover his songs. I particularly loved Wolverton Moutain, which I still play to this day. God bless..."- Al Swanson (Victoria, BC)

"Duane and Family, Your dad will always live on in all of our memories. His music and what he meant to our community is legendary. I am proud to have been your neighbor when we were growing up in the Woodlawn area. And your friend throughout life...."- Les and Amy (Frey) Tiller (Vancouver Island, BC)

"Barbara and Boys, I wish I had known about Claude's passing as I would have been there with you. He was a great man and a wonderful friend to me. I will always treasure my memories of our times together in the studio, on the road, visiting him..."- Howard Knight (Eastover, SC)

"Dear Barbara and family, I'm praying for friends to comfort you, faith to uphold you and loving memories to help you smile again. My walking dreams often brings me in the empty auditoriums left dusty since decades, then I stroll behind the velvet..."- Anglares Dominique (Paris, UM)

"I was sorry to hear of Claude King's recent passing and I send my prayers & love to all his family members for their great loss. Hes probably already playing his music and has everyone smiling just as he did for everyone of us left behind. May God..."

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Published in Shreveport Times from March 10 to March 12, 2013

Claude King SHREVEPORT, LA-Funeral services for Country Music Singer Claude King, 90, will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at the Centuries Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Billy...
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Published online on March 10, 2013 courtesy of Dignity Memorial.

Funeral services for Country Music Singer Claude King, 90, will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at the Centuries Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Billy Franks and Rev. Tim Maloy ...
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